Stonefish found in Kingscliff's Cudgen creek
DEADLY stonefish have been discovered at a popular Tweed swimming spot and swimmers are being urged to take care.
Cudgen Headland Surf Life Saving Club issued the warning after one of its members found the fish in Cudgen Creek.
The creek's calm waters make it popular for families with children. But alarm bells rang when a diver, after hearing rumours, confirmed the fish's presence.
"They're new occurrences, you could say,” the club's surf life saving director Michael Crawley said.
"That doesn't mean there hasn't been one sitting around the corner for the past 20 years, it's just not something we normally have to deal with.
"They are in areas where there's swimmers, so this is really just a public warning that it is unusual but we have seen stonefish recently and people should be mindful when swimming and walking near the water.”
Stonefish look like rocks and inhabit rocky areas. They can also be found sleeping in mud or sand.
The stonefish's back is lined with spines that release a venomous toxin.
If stung, call 000 for an ambulance and soak in warm water to relieve pain.
